10,104 Clovis Stock Photos, High-Res Pictures, and Images - Getty Images

By A Mystery Man Writer

Lane Goar, a farmer for 40 years, breaks apart the dry soil in a field that should have a crop of winter wheat but is nothing more than dirt near Clovis, N.M., March 21, 2000. Goar said he remembers the last meaningful rain was in August of 1999. Goar is hoping to get enough rain for the next crop and has pretty much given up on this one. The state's Drought Task Force started gearing up for a potentially devastating drought across most of New Mexico this spring. By next month, all but the northeast corner of the state will be in at least a mild drought, and the outlook for the rest of the spring isn''t good according to the task force. Precipitation levels already are below normal, winter snow pack levels are low, and continued warm, dry weather is predicted through June. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty